, 1887-11-12

uooW vi louI leloW creatures, or perhaps
even more OF the vague possibility of the
jail and all within its walls being blown to
the blue sky by anarchistic dynamite.
Preparing for the March.
The long hour was not yet half COM
pleted when in the jail's distant south cor
ridor, unseen and unheard by the main
body of reporters, Sheriff Matson, accom-
panied by grim old Jailer Folz, manly
looking Rev. DR.. Bolton and a score of
stalwart deputies, stepped close to the
open door of August Spies cell, prepare
tory to reading the death warrant to the
four condemned men. Twenty minutes
were occupied in this trying formality,
rendered doubly an ordeal by the horrible
silence prevailing, and by the sickening
odors coming from the room where lay
the bloody corpse of their comrade, Louis
Lingg, the suicide.
Directly above IN their cell doors APP
peared the dark boards and darker eyes
of the two commuted anarchists, Samuel
Fielden and Schwab. Sheriff Matson
with quick breath and heart beating high
carried unsteadIly in his hand the docu
ments ordering him to carry on the sen
tence of the law. They we're written on
type writer and all duly attested. The
huge iron door swung back on its hinges
and Spies stepped firmly forward in front
of his guard to listen to the reading of
the document, with his head barred and
slightly inclined inclined forward.
The sheriff began reading, commencing
in a low voice scarcely audible FIVE feet
away. He slowly and carefully pro
nounced every separate word. As the
reading progressed he gradually assumed
his natural tone of voice. and not a STUN
BILE or mistake occurred from the begin
ming to the end. Not a syllable was ut
tered by anyone but the sheriff, and no
other sound but his voice was heard save
the ticking of the telegraph instruments a
few feet away. Spies listened carefully
to all that was said, but his face did not
change for an instant during the reading,
though it occupied at least four minutes.
When Sheriff Matson finished, Spies
looked at him a moment steadily. but
without malevolence, and said: sheriff.
you are now about to commit a Judicial
murder"
He said nothing more but stepped
quickly from his cell threshold giving
himself to be pInioned and then to he
hidden in one of the snow white shrouds of
which a deputy carried an armful. Spies
while being bound was seen to be dressed
in a pair of dark wooden trouscrs and a
shirt Of light grey flannel fastened at the
throat with a tiny red cord. His feet
were encased in a pair of embroidered
slippers. A fresh beard was growing on
his chin and his light curly hair was
brushed back carelessly. Taking out his
watch he handed it to a deputy request
ing him to deliver it to his mother. A
strong leather belt was then passed around
his body, securely fastening his arms
straight down to where a pair of bright
nickle plated manacles behind him, fas.
tened his wrists together. A moment
later his body was completely enveloped
in a shroud loosely gathered about his
neck.
The sheriff was addressing Adolph
Fischer, who was even more indifferent
than Spies at the formality. Like Spies,
he told the sheriff that it was a judicial
murder. Fischer had his SLOUGH hat on,
but removed it as he stepped out of his
cell. He was neatly dressed in n blue
flannel shirt, new dark breeches, and
had been shaved but a few hours before.
He nodded to Spies in a pleasant manner,
and asked him in German how he felt.
Spies smiled good naturally and replied
that he felt first rate.
Engel heard the reading of the death
warrant with stolid Indifference, and did
not utter a single word of comment. A
few minutes later, while standing near
Spies and Fischer he said "Well?" as
if to inquire their feelings. Spies and
Fischer replied by smiling chcerfully and
nodding. Before their arms were pin.
Toned all of them shook hands with
Tailor Folz and the deputies surrounding
them, with all OF whom they had become
acquainted during their many months of
confinement.
Parse g. warrant was read last, He
seemed to have nerved himself up to a
great tension and had nothing to say in
reply. Like Engel, he was clad in a full
suit of black dress clothes. even to a
Prince Albert coat. He stepped lightly
from his cell when the reading was fin
ished, but drew back in~voluntarily at the
sight of the three ghostly looking figures
bound and shrouded before him. Again
he stepped out, now with a look of def
dnce. Bind me tight he said, and
be sure to make no mistake" But the
deputy complied too well, Parsons had
to3reach under the shroud and ease one
Of the straps. That is better" he re-
marked with a smile. Now | am
ready"
Forming in a double file each of the
four anarchists. side by side with a dep
uty, we're now headed east and started
for the gallows. A stop at the iron door
at the cages gave the four a chance to
turn their heads in the direction of the
second gallery of the jail, and bid good
bye several times to Schwab and Fielden,
receiving broken cultural farewell salutes
in return. Here again spiritual ~consola-
ton was offered by DR.. Bolton, now for
the last time. A sarcastic smile lit up
the faces OF all four of the men as they
resumed their tread along the corridor
and turned slowly into the dark east
angle, disappearing like ghosts up the
steps of the gallows.